Chapter 266: The Art of Deception

Bette Porter took another gulp of water, trying to soothe the turmoil in her stomach.

As a major player in the art world, the chairperson of the Soonyang Art Foundation usually had proxies handle auction sweeps, making this Bette Porter’s first actual face-to-face encounter.

But the woman hadn’t even glanced her way, and her condescending demeanor felt no different from a white supremacist looking down on her dark skin.

“I believe the contract terms are in order. We’ve simply added a few stronger clauses for your review,” the lawyer accompanying the chairperson said.

If it weren’t for the lawyer’s fluent English and gentlemanly courtesy, she would have already flipped the table. His politeness was the only thing keeping her patience intact.

“If the details of this transaction are leaked, if the deal falls through, and if Wentworth Art Gallery is found to be the cause, you’ll owe us triple the penalty fee.”

Bette Porter didn’t forget Jin Do-jun’s instructions.

The handwritten signature on the contract!

The promise was that she would concede everything else, as long as she secured that.

“Agreed. However, shouldn’t this clause apply equally to both parties?”

The lawyer’s eyes flickered at her response.

“Ah, yes. By the way… is the buyer of this piece an individual, not the gallery? Is Wentworth Art Gallery merely acting as an agent…?”

“That’s not in the contract, so I don’t have to answer, do I?”

She didn’t miss the subtle twitch of the old woman’s eyebrows as she sat there primly. That old hag definitely understood English.

“Ah, my apologies.”

The lawyer gave a slight bow before retrieving the documents again.

“This is the insurance policy. If the details of the contract are disclosed due to our actions, or if we violate any of the terms, we will immediately pay three times the transaction amount – that’s 1.8 billion dollars. We’d prefer to avoid the hassle of arguing in court over breach of contract.”

Bette hadn’t expected them to come this prepared. A slight smirk played on the lawyer’s lips as Bette Porter stared blankly at the insurance policy.

“Considering the financial status of a small gallery in New York, this level of security is only natural, wouldn’t you agree? We doubt you or Wentworth Gallery could afford to cough up 1.8 billion dollars. Hence, the need for a solid safety net. You understand, yes?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Our foundation’s credit is world-class, so securing this insurance didn’t cost much. Just 5.4 million dollars… a bargain, really.”

Bette Porter felt a wave of dizziness thinking about her own gallery. If 5.4 million dollars was cheap for Soonyang Group, one of Korea’s leading conglomerates, her insurance premiums would easily exceed ten million dollars.

She was ashamed that she had mocked Secretary Song earlier. Now she had to appear before them as a mere proxy without decision-making power.

“Excuse me for a moment? I need to take a call…”

As she pulled out her cell phone, Secretary Song chuckled.

“By all means.”

Bette Porter, her face flushed, hurried outside.

As soon as she was gone, Lee Pil-ok spoke.

“Whoever that girl is calling, that’s the money behind her.”

“Indeed. Looks like she’s landed herself a powerful sponsor.”

“In the end, a pretty face uses her body as her weapon, not her brain. How vulgar.”

Already convinced that she had achieved success through her body, the woman clicked her tongue and moistened her lips with wine. Just then, Bette Porter returned, her steps lighter.

“I’ll secure the insurance immediately. You’ll have it by tomorrow at the latest.”

“Your decision-maker is certainly efficient,” Secretary Song said with a sneer.

Bette Porter shot up from her seat, stung by the jab.

“I apologize for my rudeness earlier, Mr. Song.”

While Secretary Song was taken aback by the sincere apology, she addressed everyone.

“I’ll bring the insurance policy tomorrow, and we can sign the contract then. Goodbye.”

Bette Porter reached for the contract, but a rough voice stopped her. It was clearly speaking English.

“Wait a Second.”

Lee Pil-ok pulled the contract on the table toward herself and proceeded to sign it without hesitation.

After signing, she pushed back her chair and stood up.

“I don’t need to meet you twice, do I?”

Having finished speaking in clear English, Lee Pil-ok gave Secretary Song some instructions and promptly left.

“We’ll take the contract to your gallery tomorrow. We can receive the insurance policy then. Is that acceptable?”

“Of course.”

Bette Porter shook hands with the two men and practically fled.

* * *

A six hundred billion won fraud.

And solid evidence of that fraud was now in my hands.

Of course, it wouldn’t be valid until the painting was received and the money sent.

“When will the painting arrive?”

“They say it’ll arrive in fifteen days.”

“Fifteen days?”

“Yes.”

Fifteen days wasn’t even enough time to prepare a forgery. They must be in a real hurry. Plus, they’re bringing it by air, not by boat… usually, when you think of smuggling, boats come to mind.

What method are they using to get it through via air freight?

“How long will the art appraisal take?”

“About two months. It’ll be shorter if it’s genuine, of course.”

“Shorter if it’s genuine?”

“Yes. It’s often called the ‘Blink’ Law….”

Blink? As in, the act of fluttering your eyelids? How could that be a law?

“Experts get a feel for it the moment they see it. No matter how elaborate a forgery is, there’s a certain sense of unease. On the other hand, a genuine piece evokes admiration, no matter how old it is.”

“So, you’re saying you start detailed inspections when something feels off? And you don’t inspect it if it feels genuine?”

Bette Porter gave a small smile.

“No. Even if we’re confident it’s genuine, we still have to inspect it. However, there are times when something feels like a fake, but all the tests come back as genuine. Those are the cases that take the most time. We have to trace the painting’s provenance.”

“So you don’t trust the test results even when they say it’s real?”

“Sometimes, human aesthetic judgment is more accurate than physics and chemistry.”

It would take three months for the contract in my hand to become a definite weapon.

“I see. Well, it looks like everything is settled. Thank you for your hard work. The sponsorship will start this month, so I hope your gallery flourishes.”

Although she had gotten caught up in something strange, Bette Porter’s expression was radiant, as if she had forgotten all the previous events because the outcome was favorable.

After she left, I called Korea.

“Executive Director Woo, bring some of your smartest guys – the ones who wouldn’t get lost in a new place – to New York. Enjoy a few days of vacation, and then let’s get to work in fifteen days.”

* * *

“What? Lee Pil-ok herself?”

“Yes. What you only suspected has become reality, sir.”

Executive Director Woo Byung-joon was silent for a moment. The scale was far beyond what he had imagined, and the amount of money involved was probably unthinkable to him.

“So, this time it’s a 600 billion won smuggling operation?”

“Yes.”

Executive Director Woo’s expression darkened upon confirming the amount.

“Chief of staff, even if it’s to exploit Madam Lee’s weaknesses, 600 billion won is excessive. No matter how much slush fund the Chairman left behind, this is too much of a drain.”

I thought he was hesitant because it involved attacking my grandmother, but that wasn’t it. He was worried about my money.

“Director.”

“Yes?”

Even as I smiled, his expression remained grim.

“If you get pricked by a needle and a few drops of blood appear, would you call that a hemorrhage?”

“Excuse me? What does that mean…?”

“Six hundred billion won is nothing more than that to me. And that’s not the kind of money my grandfather left for me to use like this. That money is strictly for solidifying my position in Korea.”

Executive Director Woo finally understood and his mouth fell open.

“I have plenty of money. If it were a battle of finances, the Soonyang Group chairman’s seat would already be mine. It’s the shares that money can’t buy that are making this so difficult.”

I savored Executive Director Woo’s speechless expression for a moment.

“Anyway, Director.”

“Ah, yes.”

“The painting will arrive at the gallery in a few days. I need you and your team to follow the delivery people.”

“The smuggling ring?”

“Yes. What I can’t understand is the air freight. How can they smuggle a painting using air travel…?”

“You don’t know the flight details?”

“No. I don’t even know if it’s JFK or Newark. That’s why we have to track the couriers.”

“Understood. I’ll prepare the men. What about the offshore account?”

“All I know is it’s an account in the British Virgin Islands. We can’t track it down on our own. We’ll have to get that information from my grandmother.”

“Either way, Madam Lee won’t be able to escape your grasp, sir.”

“Let’s be a little more ambitious. If we dig into the couriers, we might find something more, don’t you think? This is our chance to uncover the entirety of my grandmother’s assets. Heh.”

* * *

My heart ached to rush to the gallery to see the painting, but I had to wait at the hotel.

The gallery would now begin the appraisal process. Naturally, people from my grandmother’s side would be present, staying until the very end, and if anyone recognized me, things could go wrong.

I waited anxiously for a phone call.

The first call came from none other than Bette Porter.

She was practically sobbing as she spoke.

— Howard, I can’t express how grateful I am for the opportunity to see such a masterpiece in person.

“Is it genuine?”

— Yes. It’s the consensus of all the experts present. It’s definitely genuine.

That was all I needed to hear.

I hung up on Bette Porter and immediately called Korea.

“Assistant Manager Kim, get the official artwork list of the Soonyang Art Foundation and email it to me.”

I also checked the Soonyang Gallery’s website. I searched through all the announcements and notices, but there was nothing about selling the painting.

I wanted to transfer the money right away and finalize the illegal transaction, but I couldn’t create any suspicion, so I had to wait two months. But it didn’t seem like the situation would change.

Executive Director Woo Byung-joon didn’t return to the hotel until late at night.

His expression was grim.

“Chief of staff, it seems they used the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”

“Yes. There were two teams of couriers. Employees from Soonyang’s New York branch and the Consul General of the Korean Consulate in New York. I was delayed checking their residences.”

I was dumbfounded, but my first thought was:

My grandmother is truly remarkable.

“So, my grandmother has someone with connections to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If we can find out who that is, this battle might be over.”

“Possibly. Someone with that kind of influence would be a close aide… they’d know where Madam Lee’s secret funds are hidden.”

Executive Director Woo glanced at me cautiously.

“I’ll try to meet with the consulate staff. If we can find out what they know and how far up the chain of command this goes, it might make things easier.”

Civil servants are easy. They follow stricter rules than civilians, so a little pressure makes them talk. Add in the promise of retirement funds, and they’ll betray anyone.

“I’ll prepare the carrots; you wield the whip, Director.”

“For these kinds of guys, the whip is enough. Keeping their heads on their shoulders is a carrot enough for them. Heh.”

He was truly a reliable man.

He was skilled and knew how to save money.

I would have to ensure his retirement package was very generous.